The Trump administration's cuts to the CDC's sexually transmitted infection (STI) lab have coincided with a dramatic rise in syphilis cases, particularly in states like Wisconsin, where cases increased by 1450% since 2019. Experts warn that the lab's closure, resulting in the layoff of 28 employees, will severely hamper STI surveillance, testing, and research. The lab possessed unique capabilities, including a PCR test for syphilis and expertise in multidrug-resistant gonorrhea. These cuts, alongside broader reductions in public health funding, threaten the US's ability to control STIs and address rising rates of congenital syphilis, a preventable but devastating condition. The situation is further complicated by the administration's placement of key STI experts on leave.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.